I am a 24 year old female backpacker who is heading off for a 6 month expedition in Central America. I am a vegetarian, and an overall health nut and fitness freak. Everytime I go travelling I put on weight and feel unhealthy despite the treks and hikes. I need a more set routine...and there are no gyms anywhere! Anyone else share the same frustrations? Any suggestions?
Reply to this Hi Shiran,
Welcome to TravelBlog.
Do you have an ipod/mp3 player? You could try loading a CD of an exercise guru onto it, maybe one that uses those rubber 'bands' for a more difficult workout. They'd be light and small enough to be worth taking for you - the bands, not the guru ;-)
Reply to this Thats a great idea..do you know where I could find the bands? Anywhere where there is already a whole-body workout utilizing the bands?
Reply to this Try a sports store (you could probably buy the cd and bands in one pack there), or a health foods store.
A friend is quite into Billy Blanks (he incorporates the bands) - even managed to get a small group of us to give it a go one evening, which was fine but we'd just eaten one of her yummy dinners!
Reply to this Hello Healthytraveller 😊
U could do yoga and pilates workouts in your room. U dont need much/any equipment for those. Even if u are sharing a room with others the exercies are unlikely to disturb them or take up too much space. Many of the pilates exercises involve using your body weight to create resitance. It is also a very flexible way to workout. U can do 5 minutes or an hour(or more if u really want) at a time. Or u can do several 5 or 10 minute sessions per day which is what I do so I can fit it between the other things I want to do.
Mel
Reply to this Wow! You should be a torchbearer of this year's Olympic game to promote healthy and active living, Shiran! ^^ That's amazing!
Itsn't backpacking a vigorous enough activity itself?^^ I do hot yoga and gym at home but I've never had problems keeping fit on the road. Carrying a 15kg backpack is exhausting enough, and plus the hiking, hangouts, beach activities...I find it more difficult to sit down! Digging fitness gyms on the road seems to limit the sense of advanture we desire from a trip. The best way I found was to fit into the locals' exercise routine, at the same time share the health energy with people from different cultures, that's priceless! Example: joining the boys in Tibet for a soccer game; taking a diving lesson in Thailand; wake up at 6am and blend in with the Vietnamese moring exercisers for a jog...etc...and the list goes on.
Cheers! Health rocks!!^^
Sandra
Reply to this you will find that you will do LOADS of walking, this is a great form of exercise. depending on where you travel you will find the diet very different, in most cases healthier so you will naturally not gain weight
Laura
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